Mike Wallace, 65, in ‘shock’ at NASCAR’s denial of Daytona 500 attempt

NASCAR did not approve veteran driver Mike Wallace, who hasn't competed in a Cup Series race since 2015, to get behind the wheel for MBM Motorsports at the 2025 Daytona 500.

The motorsports team announced earlier this month that Wallace, 65, would join them in an attempt to qualify for the season-opening Crown Jewel Feb. 16.

Had he been approved, Wallace would have been the second-oldest driver to start the race.

A NASCAR spokesperson told media outlets Monday night that Wallace has not raced on any intermediate or larger racetrack since 2015, leading to his rejection for Daytona consideration. It would also have been Wallace's first time racing in NASCAR's Next Gen car, introduced in 2022.

NASCAR did not shut the door on Wallace entering the race for 2026, but the driver expressed his "utter shock and devastation" in NASCAR's decision in a Facebook post late Monday.

Wallace wrote that he was not approved to race in the Cup, Xfinity or Truck series in 2025.

"This comes as a total shock as the President of NASCAR last week in a real phone call told me all was good and he will see me in Daytona," Wallace claimed. "I owe this posting to all my fans and non fans who were so supportive through the great messages and postings of support as they say I inspired them!"

Wallace went on to say that there were sponsors committed to MBM Motorsports and him specifically for the Daytona 500 effort.

Wallace made 197 starts in the Cup series, his last coming at the 2015 Daytona 500. He notched 14 top-10 finishes on NASCAR's top circuit but never won a Cup race.

--Field Level Media